Author: Omkar Dutta

Acer was already rumored to unveil an entry-level Android tablet in 2013. Last week, Acer finally announced the ultra-cheap Iconia B1 tablet at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2013 in Las Vegas. With one week of its announcement, Acer went ahead and launched this affordable 7 inch tablet exclusively for the folks living in India.

Indian mobile phone manufacturers such as Micromax, HCL, Lava and Spice are already selling cheap Android tablets in India. However, Acer Iconia B1 is the first tablet from an international brand to be available in India at a price of sub-10,000. This device runs on the Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) Operating System out-of-the-box. You can find the complete specs below.

Acer Iconia B1 comes with a price-tag of just Rs.7,999 (approx. $150) in India. Yes, you heard it right! If you are looking for an entry-level Android tablet from an international brand, then your search should end at this device. However, the 0.3 megapixel front camera and pathetic battery are major disappointment.

LG Optimus G is one of the most powerful Android smartphone out there. It is the company’s current flagship device featuring a 4.7 inch display, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro (APQ8064) processor with a 1.5 GHz quad-core Krait CPU, 2 GB RAM, 4G LTE Connectivity and much more.

The LG Optimus G was shipped with the older Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) Operating System. The manufacturer has already promised to release the newer version of the Android soon after the launch, however it was delayed due to some unknown reasons. Today, LG finally released the much-awaited Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) update for the LG Optimus G.

This update is currently rolling out in South Korea for both LG U+ and SK Telecom’s variant. The latest update bring the usual Jelly Bean features such as Google Now, Project Butter, improved voice and data connectivity, offline text-to-speech, better performance in camera, new Gallery app, improved power management and advanced notifications.

The latest update can be easily downloaded via Over-The-Air (OTA). You will be automatically notified once the update is available for your device. If you have not yet received the update, then just go to Settings > About Device > System updates and check for the update. LG Optimus G owners in other countries are expected to get this update starting next month.

Earlier this week, Sony unveiled the much-awaited Xperia Z smartphone at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2013 in Las Vegas. This handset managed to grab the eyeballs of almost everyone at the event, thanks to its brilliant design and powerful specs. Sony Xperia Z is a water and dust resistant smartphone with a durable glass display.

Sony has already announced that the device will be launched during the Q1 of 2013. Sadly, the price of this device was not revealed at the event. Now, we have good news for the folks living in the UK. Clove, a popular online retailer has not only started taking the pre-orders of this device, but also revealed the exact price of this device. If you are still unaware of the complete features, then check out the specs posted below.

Clove has not mentioned the exact release date, however the retailer is expected to ship the device starting from March 1, 2013. This handset comes with a price-tag of £528 (approx. $850) in the UK (including VAT). To pre-order this device right now, just head over to this page.

Samsung Galaxy S II needs no introduction! It is the successor of the original Galaxy S and the first Android smartphone to cross the 10 million mark. This handset was originally launched with the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) OS and the newer Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) update is already on its way.

Samsung has just introduced a new variant of the Galaxy S II smartphone. No prizes for guessing the name! The Samsung Galaxy S II Plus packs almost same specs from the original Galaxy S II in the same old design, except the fact that the device will be shipped with the newer Android 4.1 OS and Samsung’s latest Touchwiz Nature UX out-of-the-box. Sadly, the internal memory on this device has been reduced from 16 GB to just 8 GB.

Apart from that, the rear camera features a zero-lag shutter speed that captures moving objects easily without delay. The popup video feature allows you to play a video anywhere on the screen in a resizable pop-up window while simultaneously running other tasks. The price and availability of this device will be announced soon.

Last year, the images and specs of the ZTE Grand S was leaked a number of times. Recently, the Chinese mobile phone manufacturer finally launched its very own 5 inch smartphone, the ZTE Grand S at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2013 in Las Vegas. This handset runs on the Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) Operating System and it packs a 5 inch 1080p display (similar to the recently launched Xperia Z), 1.7 GHz quad-core processor and 2 GB of RAM.

ZTE Grand S is currently the slimmest 5 inch smartphone with just 6.45 millimeters thickness. Sadly, this handset comes with a 1780 mAh non-removable battery. We have no idea what the manufacturer was thinking before creating this beast with such a disappointing battery.

Mr. Kan Yulun, Corporate Vice President of ZTE Corporation and CTO of the ZTE Mobile Device Division, said, “The ZTE Grand S gives our customers the latest in technology, functionality and style. We understand that today’s consumers call for advanced features and state-of-the-art multimedia options in their handsets, and the ZTE Grand S confidently addresses those demands. It is fitting that we can announce the world debut of the ZTE Grand S at CES 2013, the world’s largest annual innovation event.”

Along with the recently launched, Ascend Mate and Ascend D2, Huawei has also unveiled an entry-level Ascend W1 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2013 in Las Vegas. Unlike the first two smartphones, this handset runs on the Windows Phone 8 Operating System. The specs of this device is somewhat similar to the previously launched Nokia Lumia 620.

Richard Yu, CEO, Huawei Consumer Business Group, said, “Inspired and powered by people, the Ascend W1 is a combination of Huawei’s user-centric design philosophy and Windows Phone 8 software, bringing consumers a truly compelling alternative. The addition of the Ascend W1 to our smartphone portfolio gives consumers access to an even wider range of Huawei smartphones. At a price that makes sense to consumers, Ascend W1 underscores our commitment to put smartphones within reach of every consumer, no matter who you are or what you want from your phone.”

Huawei Ascend W1 will be available in blue, red, black and white colors. This handset will go on sale in China and Russia from this month, followed by Western Europe, Middle East, USA and other selected countries in the coming weeks.

Huawei was already expected to launch a phone/tablet hybrid device. Today, the Chinese mobile phone manufacturer finally unveiled the new Huawei Ascend D2 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2012 in Las Vegas. This device runs on the Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) Operating System and it comes with a 5 inch 1080p Full HD IPS+ display, 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, 13 megapixel camera and so on. This handset is protected by the anti-scratch Corning Gorilla glass and the dust and water resistant IPX 5/4.

Richard Yu, CEO, Huawei Consumer Business Group, said, “The Huawei Ascend D2 has the style, power and all-round performance capabilities you would expect from a Huawei Ascend smartphone, but with a revolutionary FHD screen, unsurpassed camera quality and power saving technology to maximize your enjoyment. We are excited to introduce the Huawei Ascend D2, the latest addition to our series of Ascend range of smartphones, as we continue to put great technology into the hands of more people around the world.”

Huawei’s properiatery fast battery charging technology enables the Huawei Ascend D2 to be fully charged in 30% less time than its takes other smartphones under the same electricity conditions. Huawei Ascend D2 will go on sale from this month in China, followed by Japan and other Asian markets in the coming months. The price of this device is still unknown.

Along with the Ascend D2, the Chinese mobile phone manufacturer has introduced another new member in the Ascend family, the Huawei Ascend Mate. This device is touted to be a “smartphone with the largest screen in the world”. If you were looking for a smartphone larger than the Galaxy Note II, but smaller than the Nexus 7 tablet, then your search finally comes to an end. The Huawei Ascend Mate comes with a 6.1 inch HD display. You heard it right!

Richard Yu, CEO, Huawei Consumer Business Group, said, “The Huawei Ascend Mate breaks barriers to deliver a supercharged entertainment, communication and creative experience for all your personal and professional needs. The Huawei Ascend Mate is an industry-leading smartphone and showcases our innovation as we continue to make great technology available to more people globally.”

This handset provides up to two days of ordinary usage on a single charge, thanks to the Huawei’s QPC and ADRX smart power-saving technology. Huawei Ascend Mate will be available in crystal black and pure white colors. This handset will go on sale from next month in China. The price of this device will be announced soon.

As expected, Sony finally released the much-awaited Xperia Z smartphone at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2013 in Las Vegas. This handset comes with some powerful specs including a 5 inch Full HD 1080p display, 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, 13 megapixel fast-capture camera and much more. Sony Xperia Z is a water and dust resistant smartphone with a durable glass display. It also features Exmor RS for mobile, the world’s first image sensor with HDR (High Dynamic Range) video for smartphones.

Kuni Suzuki, President and CEO, at Sony Mobile Communications, said, “With Xperia Z, we are bringing over half a century of innovation in TV, imaging, music, film and gaming to create a superphone experience that truly stands out. With great specifications, Sony’s media applications and One-touch functions, Xperia Z is well positioned for leadership in the smartphone market. By putting smartphones at the heart of our strategy, Sony is enabling people to create, enjoy and share content and experiences like never before.”

This handset comes with an unique Battery Stamina Mode that can improve the standby time by four times by automatically shutting down battery-draining apps whenever the screen is off and starting them up again when the screen is back on. Sony Xperia Z will launch globally during the Q1 of 2013. The price of this handset is still a mystery.

Samsung has just added a new smartphone in its popular Ativ family, the Samsung Ativ Odyssey. This handset runs on the newer Windows Phone 8 Operating System and it will be exclusively available for the Verizon Wireless subscribers in the US. Samsung Ativ Odyssey comes with the unique Samsung sharing applications such as Photo Editor, Mini Diary and Now, an application that provides weather, news, stock and currency updates instantly.

Samsung Ativ Odyssey is a Global Ready smartphone, which gives users the ability to call and email from more than 220 countries in the world. This handset will go on sale in the coming weeks. The price of this handset will be announced soon.